IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY, THE "WAVE MAIDENS" ARE THE NINE DAUGHTERS OF THE "RAN" AND "AEGIR", THE GOD AND GODDESS OF THE SEA. THEIR NAMES ARE POETIC TERMS FOR THE MANY DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OCEAN WAVES:

THE SAILORS ARE ALL EAGER TO ESTABLISH A GOOD RAPPORT WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL MAIDENS OF THE OCEANS BECAUSE, IT IS SAID THAT IF THEY SUCCEED, THEY CAN BE ASSURED A SAFE AND UNEVENTFUL VOYAGE WITH THESE POWERFUL GODDESSES PROTECTING AND GUIDING THEM. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE SAILORS FAIL TO GAIN THEIR APPROVAL, THEY CAN EXPECT GALE WINDS AND A RAGING TEMPEST THAT WILL MOST LIKELY CAUSE THEIR DEATH AT SEA. AND WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THESE LOVELY GODDESSES PREFER FUN AND POSITIVE WORKINGS, BE ASSURED THAT THEY WILL NOT HESITATE TO SET UPON THEIR ENEMIES WITH ALL THE FURY THE SEAS CAN POSSESS.

THE WAVE MAIDENS ARE THE MOTHERS OF THE GOD, "HEIMDALL," AND THE LOVERS OF "ODIN. "ACCORDING TO THE TALE, IN THE COURSE OF A WALK ALONG THE SHORELINE, ODIN BEHELD THE NINE BEAUTIFUL WAVE MAIDENS AS THE SLEPT ON THE WHITE SAND. AND HE MARRIED ALL NINE OF THEM AT ONCE. IN TIME, THEY SIMULTANEOUSLY GAVE BIRTH TO HEIMDALL, THE WHITE GOD WHO STOOD GUARD OVER THE ENTRANCE OF THE FORTRESS OF THE GODS.